Services
New! Parenting Coaching
Parenting Coaching is different than psychiatric care. The goal of psychiatric care is to treat illnesses. The goals of Parenting Coaching are to help you optimize your current parenting performance and to assist you in learning new skills to help you be a better parent. Interested in Parenting Coaching? Complete a Parenting Coaching Inquiry Form
I am NOT currently offering one-time psychiatric consultation evaluations for diagnostic clarification and treatment recommendations, without a commitment to ongoing care.
To request a consultation evaluation, please complete my initial screening form: https://intakeq.com/new/avkt3k
The initial consultation visit will then be scheduled at the earliest mutual convenience. You will be asked to complete rating scales and intake forms prior to this visit to facilitate the assessment. Consultation evaluations last 120 minutes, spread over two sessions (the initial 90 minute visit and a subsequent 30 minute feedback session).
Upon completion of the consultation I will provide you with a copy of the psychiatric evaluation and treatment recommendations. If after the initial assessment I feel that I will be able to help with the presenting concerns, and if you are interested in working with me, then we will schedule ongoing appointments. If I feel that another provider would be a better fit for your needs then I will provide referrals upon completion of the assessment. You will be able to take a copy of my evaluation and recommendations with you to share with the next provider should you so desire.
Medications are not prescribed at the end of the consultation evaluation. Discussions of medication options, risks, benefits, and alternatives requires additional time not built into the second (feedback) session. Medication management and/or specific therapy planning will be done at the next appointment, scheduled at the earliest mutually available time, should we proceed with an ongoing treatment relationship.
Medication management appointments will initially occur 1-2 times per month, depending on the medication, presenting concerns, and any interim issues which may arise. Once a stable dose of medication has been reached, appointments can be spread out to once every 1-3 months. I prefer to maintain continuing close contact with my patients in order to determine how they are doing while on medications, assess for any new stressors or concerns, and discuss ongoing treatment needs. This collaborative approach to care requires ongoing visits spaced out no further than every 3 months as much can change in a person's life over the course of 3 months' time.
Therapy appointments will occur weekly or every-other-week for the duration of the treatment plan related to the identified problem. Typically, skills-based therapy (such as CBT) addressing a specific complaint (e.g. social anxiety) will last approximately 8-12 sessions, ideally occurring weekly in order to maintain the momentum generated during each visit. Parent Management Training (either with or without the child present) will also best be served by weekly visits initially, with visits being spread out over the course of treatment to a maximum of every 6 weeks for "maintenance" follow-up.